About Me - Basie van ZylI always had passion for Nature with her raw beauty and fine tuned order in it.My drive and duty is only nature's story, carefully and artistically crafted, telling it to those who choose to listen.I've been creative since a young age but just never realized it or had the opportunity to explore & experiment with it.Once I acquired the best photographic equipment and software available my journey started.I studied photography and Digital Art intensely to gain these skills as I already had the part you cannot buy.I compete against myself and know Nature's codes and patterns within it. Prediction and proper planning play a big part in my quest to capture special moments, sometimes seldom or never to be seen again.Our natural world and in particular South-African nature and birds always fascinates me since my very first visit to my grandfather's farm in the Bonnievale district during the late sixties and seventies. The arrival of summer birds from Europe and the Northern parts of Africa was then eagerly discussed at supper time. The banks of the Breederiver were our playground, the African Paradise Flycatcher the elusive one. Visits to the Greater Kruger every two years were a family tradition since the days of bon fires in the middle of each camp surrounded by braaiing visitors and their stories of the day. I kept this family tradition alive with my wife, Sandra and my fifteen year old son Jaco.Other favorite nature spots we visit during the year include well-known mountain passes built by Thomas Bain such as the Swartberg- Baviaans - & Tradoux Passes. My companion and friend Chutney- "the L-Protector"- an Airedale Terrier, accompanies me on most of my shoots and gives me the freedom to focus on the task at hand and express myself without disturbances in my photography. I trained him since he was a puppy with hand signals and the ethics we follow in nature.My photography and art is my love & passion .... my free time I give to Mother Nature to reveal....the journey has just begun.My gallery is dedicated to my father and late grandfather for cultivating this love of nature, my mother and late grandmother for the art in me, and my wife and son for their support of my photography and passion.

Note: All birds and animals were photographed in the wild and in their natural habitat. No feeding techniques were used. Stalking and setting up techniques used included camouflage netting, an Explorer float and tent hides.All landscapes and seascapes were photographed with permission on private land or without harming and disturbing the natural environment.

Giclee Canvas prints:Limited Edition Giclee Digital Art prints on canvas.All my printing is done by master printers.I use the Giclee printing method with long lasting archival inks on high quality Epson water resistant Matte canvas media to ensure a quality product that will look great and last for more than 75 years. All canvas prints have a clear lacquer coating applied to them as a UV barrier and to protect the canvas prints from scuffing.

My first solo exhibition "Look to See" of fine art canvas prints was held at the Strand Library Gallery during December 2008. Photographic Tours to remote places in Africa and sharing my knowledge of nature with it's young people will be a dream for the future.